The impact of CD8+ T-cell subsets on HIV replication in the cerebrospinal fluid

Objective: Central nervous system (CNS) involvement is common in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. We characterized T cell subsets in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to determine the relationship between the local T cell repertoire and HIV load. Methods: We analysed CSF and blood of 42 HIV-infected patients and 53 HIV-negative controls. Flow cytometry was used to determine T cell subsets and HIV PCR to quantify HIV RNA copy numbers in both compartments. Results: HIV-positive patients had low CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratios in CSF and blood compared to control donors. HIV RNA copy numbers in CSF strongly correl…